timbri

Timbri are the plural form of timbro, an Italian noun referring to a device used to leave an imprint on a surface. In everyday Italian, timbri encompass stamping tools such as rubber stamps, self-inking stamps, and metal seals, as well as the impression produced by date or numbering stamps. They are used in offices to mark documents, packaging, or forms with text, logos, or dates, and in manufacturing to identify parts or track processes. A timbro that carries ink is called timbro inchiostrato. Official documents may bear impressions from a seal, though seals and timbri serve related, yet sometimes distinct, purposes in authentication.

In addition to physical devices, the term timbro is used in digital contexts to describe electronic or digital stamps, which timestamp or certify documents within document-management systems and electronic signature workflows. Digital timbri reproduce the function of a physical stamp in a digital environment, often with metadata such as date, time, and signer identity.

Timbri are part of a broader set of marking practices that also includes francobolli (postal stamps) and sigilli (official seals). The use and regulation of timbri can vary by jurisdiction, with rules about who may affix an official stamp and how the imprint is recorded for auditing and compliance. In everyday use, timbri remain a practical means of imprinting information, branding, or authentication on a wide range of surfaces.